On the Fields of Friendly Strike...The Dichotomy of Air Force Doctrine and Training Involving Real-Time Targeting

The impact of advanced information systems on military strategy strains the relationship between doctrine, operations, and technology. If doctrine exceeds operational capability by looking too far into the future, the US military may face significant challenges by employing tactics and techniques not yet operational. While accounting for current capabilities, doctrine must also provide guidance for future systems and operations that fulfill each service's vision for the future. Indeed, the relationship between doctrine and technology is a delicate one. This study examines this relationship by comparing current doctrine and training involving interdiction with real-time information. Current doctrine relies on information superiority for advantages on the battlefield. Supporting this, doctrine describes "aerial" maneuver forces that execute interdiction missions with dynamic targeting. Current doctrine supports the technology of today, but current training does not support the concepts and capabilities called for by doctrine. Limited resources, scope, and assets compartmentalize current Air Force training. Furthermore, exercises do not effectively train at the operational-level since no exercise incorporates all the elements of the theater air control system. As strategy evolves towards supporting halt phase operations that permit minimum spin-up time, military forces must prepare for battle with the most realistic training available. Current training should support today's doctrine and include information integration, real-time targeting, and operational-level maneuver. One solution to this challenge is distributed mission training that combines information systems, planning, control, and strike assets in a unified training exercise. Current US forces have the ability to fulfill the doctrinal assumptions regarding information superiority, but only through realistic training can military forces turn today's doctrine potential into tomorrow's operational capability